Knitting projects

After finding these amazing knitting blogs

http://outdoorknit.blogspot.com/

http: //artyarn.blogspot.com/

Its got me thinking about my own on going knitting project of making a tent/room out of knitting, I have started to think about turning this into a different more public piece. At the moment I have two large strips of knitting which make up two sides of the room, these could actually be stitched together to make one long strip which would be about 6 meters long, which would make an amazing banner.

American Craft Magazine 0ct/ Nov 09

Whilst looking through American craft I cam across these beauts:

Lisa Anne Auerbach uses machine knitted piece/ garments to voice her political views as a form of protest.

I also came across this other political piece by Marianne Jorgensen against the Iraq war. She created a hand knitted "tank" cosy.

Group Tutorial

After the last group tutorial not going exactly to plan should I say, this weeks went a hell of a lot better. I was so pleased to see people enthusiastic about my work, especially as I was worried it wasn't quite up to scratch,it's always great to find that people enjoy your work. I find personally the group tutorials more helpful than the one on ones, they generate more ideas and creativity in the group. Even though I do find that when it comes to my turn to show my work I don't get as much back from the group as others do. I don't know if this is purely because I'm sorted and on the right track or if people just don't get my work?!

John Baldessari : Pure Beauty

Whilst in London last weekend I visited the Tate and came across this beautiful exhibition that I didn't even realise was on, I was actually heading to see the Pop life exhibition but went to this instead, so glad. The artist John Baldessari, I had never heard of before. It was mainly a collection of his older pieces such as his text paintings, which once I saw, I did recognise other work included photography pieces. I only wish I had all day to spend viewing it and that I'd bought the book. I intend to go back.

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/johnbaldessari/default.shtm

Food and Embroidery

I just came across this on www.feelingstitchy.com and its made me think about a different way to use food in my project instead of just trying to knit with it.

Knitting with Food

I have spent the past several hours trying to master the "art" of knitting with spaghetti, filming my attempts. On the fifteenth take I finally managed to cast on three stitches and actually knit with two of them before the spaghetti broke, that was as good as it got.

I'm going to leave the spaghetti over night and see if this improves the strength and try again.

I also think its a good idea to stop before it drives me mad.

Food Project

To start with I chose to research into the social aspects of food, mainly dinner parties and how these have varied over the years. I came across an artist Judy Chicago who produced a large scale instillation of a dinner table. Its a feminist piece celebrating important women throughout history. Each place setting is individually designed for the person it is made for, hand embroidery on the napkin and on the runner. I loved this piece not only for the beautiful embroidery but for the amount of thought and detail that went into it. There are thirty nine place settings on the triangular table and 999 women's names carved into the tiled floor.

From this piece I was inspired to look at other feminist art and think about ways of using it in my work and linking this with the food brief, thinking about gender associations, stereotypes and roles. This then lead on to knitting and how its mainly done by women and is seen by some as traditional domestic work. Combining this with food is the next step.

Role Reverse Project

The combination of visiting Angels of Anarchy exhibition and last weeks lecture on Surrealist and Dada films I have gained an interest in the world of surrealist films. Focusing on the work of female artists and the idea of role reversal i have decided to work on a project about this. Looking at the way many of the female artists work at the Angels of Anarchy is trying to avoid the stereotypical women's role made me thinking about women's work and what is a man's work? And what it would mean to change these roles and make women's work men's work. How successful would this be?

I intend to research into these stereotypical roles and how different era's of time have effected these, including the present day in which there has been a rivival of old fashioned crafts typically done by women rather than men e.g knitting, embroidery and crochet.

Another embroidery project, done.

Using a mix of back stitch, running stitch and french knots to create a textured textile poster.

Angels of Anarchy Exhibition

An exhibition consisting of surrealist art by women, exploring the way female artists created work that challenged peoples views of convention. Twisting the traditional way of representing typical art themes such as landscapes, portraits and still life. Work varies from drawings to sculptures and photographs to collages. Along side famous artists such as Frida Kahlo there were more unusual artists like Dorothea Tanning.

Some of my favorite work was that of Francesca Woodman's with a mixture of fantasy style black and white photographs and a short film showing the ways in which some of her work was produced as well as being a a representation of her work.

Another artist that interested me was Edith Rimmington with only one piece of her work in the exhibition it made a great effect on me, it was more the style of her work that interested me more than the meaning behind it. The way she uses ink and pens and the built up effect made from the simple lines made by them and the selective use of colour.

Mittens first attempt.

My first attempt at following the impossibly confusing pattern for knitting mittens. It didn't go to well as you can see.

Summer project. DONE

I have posted my lovely knitted postcard off so that it will arrive in plenty of time before uni starts up again. I just really hope it doesn't get lost in the post. fingers crossed.

New Items!

Check out these beauty's that have appeared on my etsy shop!

Open!

My Etsy shop is open!

Check it out for beautiful handmade items like these!

Finally

I have got my photos up on flickr after meaning to do it for almost a year. I've done it!

Check me out http://www.flickr.com/photos/41780873@N03/

Banner

Eat the beat banner.

Machine applique on canvas.

My quilt

Quilt made up of vintage and new fabrics, using hand and machine stitch.

Coming soon

my shop on etsy!

opens friday 29th august

Coco avant Chanel

I went to see Coco avant Chanel last night, written and directed by Anne Fontaine and starring the beautiful Audrey Tautou. The film documents the life of Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel before she became the legend that we all know about, it revealed a lot of things I think most people wouldn't of know about. Like the fact Coco started off producing hats and was seen as an anarchist of her time by deciding to not wear a corset. The film is beautifully shot and at times I wanted certain moments to become still so I could look at them longer, such as the shot of Coco from behind standing on the beach. All in all a gorgeous film but a bit of a chick flick, glad it was in french.

Oh and I loved the stripey top she comes back from the seaside wearing.

Snaps from Italy

Just a few of my photos taken with my two trusty 35m cameras whilst traveling around Italy for 2 weeks. I came back with 5 films and 200 digital photos. Not bad. But then again everything out there is so picturesque anyways it deserves a few photos.

Photo Collages

a photo collage inspired by David Hockney.

Taken from the top of the Piazza Michelangelo in Florence.

Diana instant

Photos taken on my trip around Italy using my instant back for Diana.

Third Blog

So this is my third and final blog.

I think I'm finally happy with it. 

Yay!

For old posts check out

http://lulu-astitchintime.blogspot.com/